Toulouse, France----The 2010 USA Women’s U17 World Championship Team used a strong fourth quarter to pull away from China and secure a 97-74 win in the semifinals of the inaugural 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship on Saturday. The USA is 7-0 overall, while China falls to 5-2 overall.

The Americans used a 24-8 advantage in the fourth quarter to turn a 73-66 advantage into a big victory. The Americans advance to the gold medal game, where they will face the host country, France (5-2 overall) at 11:30 a.m. EDT on Sunday. China and Belgium (5-2 overall) will compete for the bronze medal after Belgium lost 59-49 to France in Saturday's late game.

“China is a very good team,” USA U17 and Wingate University head coach Barbara Nelson says. “They are a good shooting team. We looked at the percentages of the leading three-point shooting teams and also free throw percentage and points scored; China was very high in all of those categories…I’m proud of our kids. I thought they played very hard and they adjusted to a perimeter game very well.

Ariel Massengale (Bolingbrook, Ill.) led the USA with 22 points, six rebounds and six assists. Breanna Stewart (North Syracuse, N.Y.) followed with 17 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks. Elizabeth Williams (Virginia Beach, Va.) contributed 14 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.

“I think it was a solid win for us…because it took a total team effort,” Williams says. “We knew it was going to be a tough game. I think mentally we were really tough, especially during those stretches where they had runs. I think overall, it was a good game for us.”

For more information, visit the USA Basketball web site:

http://www.usabasketball.com/womens/u17/